Turkey and USA gov has signed the deal for production of 30 F-16 Blok50+ aircraft for TuAF under FMS conditions. The aircraft will be produced in TAI facilities Ankara between 2011 and 2012.
MoD Gonul said he hopes that further F-16 procurements from other countries will be produced in TAI facilities as well. After LM production lines close for F-16 in favor of F-35, TAI might be a producer for F-16 for other nations.
The aircraft will use Aselsan/Mikes production SPEWS-2 EW systems which will be used also in CCIP F-16s of TuAF.
Cost of the project 1.78b$ which includes EW suites, 12 spare engines, production in Turkey and some rights on changing critical mission computer software (i.e integrating local produced weapons on TuAF F-16s).
All aircraft will be equipped with AN/AGP-68v9 , JHMCS and Link16
IMO this is a good deal. Earlier news had said TuAF was planning to buy ~20 of the aircraft in D model and with CFTs, so i think they are planned to replace some older F-4 in strike roles. With the ability to integrate local LGB and similar munitions (which were tested on F-4s earlier) the strike capabilities of TuAF will be increased a lot.
MoD Gonul said he hopes that further F-16 procurements from other countries will be produced in TAI facilities as well. After LM production lines close for F-16 in favor of F-35, TAI might be a producer for F-16 for other nations.
The aircraft will use Aselsan/Mikes production SPEWS-2 EW systems which will be used also in CCIP F-16s of TuAF.
Cost of the project 1.78b$ which includes EW suites, 12 spare engines, production in Turkey and some rights on changing critical mission computer software (i.e integrating local produced weapons on TuAF F-16s).
All aircraft will be equipped with AN/AGP-68v9 , JHMCS and Link16
IMO this is a good deal. Earlier news had said TuAF was planning to buy ~20 of the aircraft in D model and with CFTs, so i think they are planned to replace some older F-4 in strike roles. With the ability to integrate local LGB and similar munitions (which were tested on F-4s earlier) the strike capabilities of TuAF will be increased a lot.